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Kent, UK
Throughout life we are told to follow a certain path. As you begin this journey each experience begins to build who you are and we all start learning what is important to us and questioning what we want from this beautiful life we live. Often people are scared to make sacrifice and change to do what they want. Friends and family question why and how.
For me I embrace these feelings. I am constantly learning about myself and what I want. I studied psychology in the hope to understand human behaviour and ended up at the age of 23 teaching psychology to others in colleges. The holidays and pay were all great, the feeling of worth and helping others grow is irreplaceable and still I felt something missing. For me it was time to re evaluate. I had been travelling around he world and already knew o wanted to go again and possibly settle for a while in a foreign country again. I wanted to do this and I wanted to change my career. Of this I was sure.
I went off to Thailand for a family wedding and some mindfulness practice where I decided what I wanted at this point in my life. I am a firm believer in nothing has to be forever and we are ever changing beings who are allowed to grown and learn and change what we want in order to be who we are. And so that was me. A career change was in order. I decided there were two things I wanted to do as a career. Both perfectly viable I just had to pick. The choices were to train as a yoga instructor, heading off to Bali or India to complete a 4 month intensive programme and return and teach what I loved and where my passion in my heart is. But then there is my head, my superego who is the sensible side of me wanting to peruse my love for cost management and therefore retrain as a Quantity Surveyor. I knew with this I could work around the world still and my husband as a building surveyor could then set up a company later in life if necessary, in which we could work together. An ultimate dream.
After deep and meaningful contemplation I made a decision. I would do both; not simultaneously, but I would eventually do both. And for now I would try to find faith in my blessings that universities and companies would see my passion and take me on as a quantity surveyor.
I told family and friends who although were extremely supportive always responded the same. In shock that I wanted to change careers and that it was something so very different. And how did j think I would be able to do this with no experience. And what about my 10 week summer holiday and my lovey income that allowed me to live a good life. All of these questions and yet to me, these were the only things holding me back. The money and the holidays were now the only thing keeping me in education, I was no longer happy or passionate and money could not improve that. I knew I was doing the right thing and I appreciated my family and for ends opinions but this was for me. My husband had my back the whole way and that was all I needed. I was well aware that I came with no skills or knowledge in their field and yet I was hoping someone would see my passion and commitment to succeed. If I could not achieve this goal in life I could always go straight into my yoga training. But I was so very determined to succeed in this and no was not an option.
And so I took my chances and applied for a Masters in Quantity Surveying. I was accepted and this was my first step to perusing my dream achieved. I was so proud of myself. I knew I needed to find work. I handed in my notice as a teacher aware that I had nothing to go to. When I told my manager she was shocked that I was doing it this way, the conformist way of ensuring we all have something to go to before we leave our job. However, in my eyes this job was holding me back from committing 100% of me to my new career and so it had to be done.
I completed a CV honest in all aspects and focusing on my strengths and started looking for companies to send it too. Many demanded experience or degrees already but I was determined and began seeking alternative routes and networking. I logged onto my LinkedIn account and searched one by one local companies I had researched and taken interest in. One company had on their page that they were recruiting at any level and so my first CV was submitted.
I remember it fondly. My phone pinged; an email. I looked st the screen and was overwhelmed to see an invitation for discussion of my career prospects from the sole company I had sent my CV to. We arranged to meet and I sat with two partners in the company. I was honest and passionate and felt they understood me. I wanted this. I wanted them to see that I was a risk worth taking. I left feeling positive and insightful. Even if I didn't get this one they had been very positive and helpful to me. Within days I was called back and grilled further by another member of the team. I liked how they worked and how important it was to them that they all believed I would be right for this job. And I was, I am and now my journey begins. A journey I want to try to record about the challenges and changes. How I embrace them and grow and learn. A journey I want to share to show you it is possible and that we all have similar desires and feeling and can be scared, excited, have a tough day but it will all be worth it. Welcome to my journey. It may change along the way but I cannot wait to see what I can do.
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